Suspect in custody after ramming his car into FBI building gate in Pittsburgh
Donald Henson, identified by the FBI as the suspect who rammed a vehicle into a security gate at its Pittsburgh field office on Sept. 17, 2025. (FBI)
A man drove a car into a metal gate at the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office early Wednesday in what authorities described as an intentional "act of terror."
The suspect, identified as Donald Henson of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, allegedly rammed an entrance gate at around 2:40 a.m. with a white Toyota sedan before getting out and then grabbing an American flag from inside the vehicle and throwing it over the gate, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Giordano said at a press briefing.
Henson fled on foot after the crash and may be dangerous, Giordano added. It was not immediately clear if he was armed. No FBI personnel were hurt.
A white sedan is seen after crashing into a gate at the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, Sept. 17, 2025. Officials said the driver fled the scene. (KDKA)
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"We look at this as an act of terror against the FBI," Giordano said, per CBS. "This was a targeted attack on this building."
Authorities said Henson, a former military member, may have been experiencing a mental health issue.
"Right now, he is wanted in connection with this crime against the FBI," Giordano added. "It is a federal offense and we will be seeking prosecution to the fullest extent."
A white sedan is seen lodged against the bent security gate outside the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office after a crash authorities called intentional on Sept. 17, 2025. (KDKA)
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Giordano said that Henson visited the Pittsburgh office recently.
"In scouring our indexes, we did find that he visited the field office a couple of weeks ago to make a complaint that didn't make a whole lot of sense," Giordano said. "We ran down everything that he came down with. It didn't have a federal nexus. We contacted him to let him know there wasn't a federal offense that we were able to charge."
Images from the scene showed a white sedan sitting with its driver's door ajar in front of the bent gate and a security booth. The car’s hazard lights were flashing.
An American flag hangs on the damaged security gate outside the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office after a car rammed the barrier, Sept. 17, 2025. (KDKA)
Nakeisha Brown, who works nearby, told WTAE she witnessed the incident and first heard the screeching of tires. She then saw the aftermath of the collision and a man who got out of the vehicle.
"He got out and went around the passenger side and pulled something out of the passenger side," Brown said. "I thought it was a gun, but it happened to be a flag and he just set it on that fence and started yelling out some words and just took off."